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As a fan of small cars, I definitely believe that the rising cost of fuel isn’t all bad. The positive side of the skyrocketing gas prices and the resulting drop in pickup and SUV sales is that US automakers are being forced to reevaluate their lineups. Ford announced over the weekend that they intend to sell the hatchback version of the Fiesta—unveiled at the 2008 Detroit auto show as the Verve concept—alongside the sedan for the US launch of the vehicle, planned for 2010. If not for high gas prices, Ford may never have made the decision to sell the more versatile Fiesta hatch in the US (the Fiesta is one of the makes most successful cars in the UK). Unless gas prices take a nose-dive, Chrysler and GM will hopefully also respond by developing more small cars and small car variations for their home market or by bringing products here that they have developed for foreign markets.

What small cars currently sold overseas would you like to see sold in the US?  

I know this is essentially hopeless, but I do love the European-market Ford Ka, the brilliantly styled minicar that first went on sale over there more than a decade ago. We had one here at Automobile Magazine years and years ago, and even then, when gasoline was dirt-cheap, it got a lot of positive attention on the streets of Ann Arbor. Nowadays, people would flock to a handsome, cheeky little car like that.  

The Volkswagen Polo tops my list, although I've not driven one. The Rabbit is a very nice car for the money, though, so I'd like to think that the Polo is similarly good, too.

The crazy-funky, insect-lookin' Mitsubishi i is another one that I'd love to see on our roads.

Good call on the Ford Ka.  

Rising fuel costs aren't that bad, but then, I've been trying to make that point for years. I know the infrastructures are totally different, but as long as we're paying less for fuel than people are in Europe, I think we have nothing to complain about.

I agree with Rusty: Good call on the Ford Ka. I'll second it and say BMW 120d (diesel), diesel euro Ford Focus, and the Renault Clio. I've driven a Polo, and while it was fun, it didn't seem to be a standout.

Not to mention the host of small-displacement (under 500cc) cool, efficient (60-plus mpg) motorcycles that the rest of the world gets...the ones held off from our shores because small bikes supposedly don't sell here.  

Toyota diesels especially the Corolla Verso D4D.The Yaris SR with the Corolla 1.8 would be sweet too.(the Verso for the wife and kids,the Yaris SR for me.)  

I agree with all of you guys. The bottom line is that japanese automakers have always spent a lot of resources in this segment and americans happily ignored it and spent their resources on their trucks and big engined cars knowing they had control of that market. But now that trucks and big cars are not selling they have to rethink their strategies. The problem now is that their small cars have been so bad for so many years that is going to take a while for people consider their small car. The most successfull way is to bring those vehicles that have proven histories in Europe.  

The Mazda 2 intrigues me. Although it's not as handsome as it's bigger brother the 3, it's been well-received in Europe. This would be the perfect time for Mazda to bring it to the US.  

I think the Honda Stream and the Toyota Estima mini-minivans would be great vehicles to bring over here..

Also, Opel ( which would be Saturn over here ) has a lot of vehicles that should be brought here..

Finally, the Ford S Max and C Max should have been here 5 years ago.  I think with the current gas prices, they will be here in a couple years..